Pedal extensions for organs



United States Patent Ofiice 2,900,862 Patented Aug. 25, 1959 PEDAL EXTENSIONS FOR ORGANS Anthony J. Getz, Florence, NJ. Application May 19, 1958, Serial No. 736,101 Claims. (0]. 84-426) My invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly to a pedal extension device for organs of the type having an octave pedal keyboard and an expression edal. p In recent years the spinnet organ has become popular as an instrument to be enjoyed in the home. Heretofore, it required greatskill and long training to play an organ, due to the multiplicity of keyboards and great number of foot pedals that had to be actuated during play. The introduction of the spinnet organ such as the Hammond organ, manufactured by the Hammond Instrument Company, has simplified the playing of an organ to the point that it canbe readily enjoyed by those of average skill and talent, For example, the foot pedal keyboard of the spinnet organ has been simplified so that there is only an octave pedal keyboard provided and an expression pedal. I have found that the playing of a spinnet organ has been simplified to the extent that it can be readily enjoyed by children except that, due to their small size, they have considerable difficulty in reaching the foot pedals.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a foot pedal extension for'an organ of the type having an octave pedal keyboard which is operable to enable children to actuate the pedals of the organ.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a pedal extension device of the type described which is easily disposed in operative position in overlying relation to the octave pedal keyboard of a' spinnet organ so that it ma ybe quickly and conveniently removed or utilized, as desired.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a pedal extension device of the type described which is readily adjustable. to accommodate children of various ages.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a pedal extension device of the type described which is neat in appearance, efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Still another object of the present invention is the pro vision of an expression pedal extension device particularly adapted to be utilized with the octave pedal extension device described above, which device is simple in construction, efficient in operation and economical to manufacture.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims.

The convention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a spinnet organ having an expression pedal extension device and an octave pedal keyboard extension device, embodying the principles of the present invention, disposed in operative position thereon mounted on the expression pedal thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the octave pedal keyboard extension device illustrated in Figure I;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the device shown in Figure 2;

' Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the expression pedal extension device shown in Figure l; and

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a spinnet organ, generally indicated at 10, which is of the type manufactured by the Hammond Instrument Company and produced under the trade name Hammond. The organ 10 includes the usual octalve pedal keyboard which consists of a series of natural pedals, designated in the drawings by the numeral 12 followed by letters corresponding to the letters of the scale, and a series of sharp pedals, designated by the numeral 14 followed by the sharp letters of the scale. The organ 10 also includes the usual expression pedal 16 which is disposed generally in line with the octave pedal keyboard in horizontally spaced relation thereto on the right hand side of the organ.

The present invention is more particularly concerned with an octave pedal keyboard extension device, generally indicated at 18, for use in connection with the octave pedal keyboard of the organ. As best shown in Figures 2-5, the octave pedal keyboard extension device 18 com prises a main frame including a pair of upright end members 20 having an upper longitudinal frame member 22 extending between the upper ends thereof and rigidly securing the end members in horizontally spaced relation. A lower, forward, longitudinal member 24 is fixedly mounted between the end frame members 20, by any suitable means such as glue or the like, and a lower, rearward, longitudinal frame member 26 is fixedly mounted between the end frame members, by any suitable means such :as glue or the like, in vertically spaced relation to the frame member 24.

Mounted about the upper longitudinal frame member 22, in octave pedal keyboard arrangement, is a series of elongated natural extension pedals, designated by the numeral 28 followed by the letters corresponding to the letters of the scale, and a series of relatively short, sharp extension pedals, designated by the number 30 followed by letters corresponding to the sharped letters of the scale.

The extension pedals 28 and 30 are suitably mounted on the frame for movement in a vertical plane and, as shown, each of the natural extension pedals 28 is provided with a downwardly extending bore to receive the upper end of an elongated rod 32. The rod 32 of each of the pedals 28 extends through a corresponding vertical opening 34 formed in the forward portion of the upper longitudinal frame member 22 and an aligned vertical opening 36 formed in the lower forward frame member 24. In addition, the rear end of each of the pedals 28 has a downwardly extending bore which receives the upper end of a guide rod 38 which extends downwardly through a registering vertical opening 40 formed in the rear portion of the upper longitudinal frame member 22.

In a like manner, each of the sharp extension pedals 30 has its forward portion provided with a downwardly extending bore for receiving the upper end of an elongated rod 42 which extends downwardly through a verti-' cal opening 44 formed in the upper longitudinal frame member 22 and an aligned vertical opening 46 formed in the lower rearward frame member 26. In addition, each of the sharp pedals 30 has its rearward portion provided with a downwardly extending bore for receiving the upper end of a guide rod 48 which extends down- 3 wardly through a vertical opening 50 formed in the rearward portion of the upper longitudinal frame member 22.

As best shown in Figure 1, the pedal extension device 18 is arranged to be disposed relative to the organ It so that the octave extension pedal keyboard thereof is in overlying relation to the octave pedal keyboard of the organ. To this end, the lower surface of the end frame members 20 are arranged to be supported on the floor on opposite sides of the pedal keyboard of the organ. In order to provide vertical adjustability to accommodate players of various age or size, the lower end of each end frame member 20 has a pair of rectangular extension blocks 52 disposed in alignment therewith. Any suitable means may be provided for detachably securing the extension blocks 52 to the lower surface of the end frame members 20 and, as shown, such means preferably includes a pair of spaced upstanding dowels 53 secured to each of the extension blocks, the upper extension block being suitably bored to receive the dowels of the lower extension block and the lower portion of the end frame members being suitably bored to receive the dowels extending upwardly from the upper extension block.

In order to operatively connect the extension pedals 28 and 3th with the corresponding pedals 12 and 14 of the organ, motion transmitting means is operatively connected with each of the extension pedals and engage able with the corresponding organ pedal. As shown, such means includes a lower organ pedal engaging block 54 for each of the natural extension pedals 28, each pedal engaging block being connected with the lower end of the rod 32 of the associated extension pedal by means of a pair of extension blocks 56. Any suitable means may be provided for detachably securing the extension blocks 56 between the lower end of the associated rod 32 and pedal engaging block 54. As shown, the extension blocks are in the form of cylindrical sleeves, each having a short dowel 58 rigidly secured to the lower portion thereof and extending downwardly therefrom. The pedal engaging block 54 includes an upwardly facing bore 60 for receiving the dowels 58 or the lower end of the rod 32.

In a like manner, a pedal engaging block 62 is provided for each sharp extension pedal 30 and is connected with the associated rod 42 thereof by means of a pair of extension blocks 64. As before, each extension block has a bore in its upper end and a short dowel 66 extending from the lower end thereof for detachably securing the same together between the lower end of the associated rod and the associated pedal engaging block 62, the latter being provided with an upwardly extending bore 68 for alternatively receiving the lower end of either of the dowels 66 or the lower end of the rod 42.

As shown in Figure 3, the lower surface of the natural and sharp extension pedals 28 and 30 rest against the upper surface of the upper longitudinal frame member 22 when the device is not in operative position. The entire device 18 is preferably constructed of wood but may be of other material. Because of the relatively few number of parts, the device is of relatively light weight and can be readily handled even by children. The device is mounted in operative position by lifting the same until the extension pedal keyboard of the device is disposed in overlying relation to the pedal keyboard of the organ and then lowered so that the pedal engaging blocks 54 and 62 engage the respective pedals of the organ. As shown in Figure 1, when the lower surface of the end frame members 20 are resting on the floor, the extension pedals 28 and 30 will be disposed above the upper longitudinal frame member 22, a vertical distance greater than the vertical distance through which the organ pedals are actuated during play.

With the device postioned as indicated above and shown in Figure 1, the extension pedals 28 and 30 are thus disposed in octave keyboard arrangement in a position to be engaged by a player of small size, such as a child or the like. The arrangement of the rods 32 and 38 guides the natural extension pedals for movement through a vertical plane in a translational manner. Regardless of where the player engages the upper surface of the natural extension pedals, movement in the vertical plane can be readily accomplished without danger of the extension pedal binding during its movement. It will be noted that the vertical movement of the natural extension pedal is transmitted to the corresponding natural pedal of the organ through the rod 32 and the pedal engaging block 54 connected to the lower end thereof. The weight of each natural extension pedal and its associated structure is such that it does not materially affect the spring return action of the natural pedals of the organ. That is, each natural pedal of the organ 12 is biased into its uppermost position as by a spring or the like, and is played by moving the same down against such spring action. The natural extension pedals are thus returned to their upper position, as shown in Figure l, by the action of the natural pedal of the organ itself and no extraneous biasing means for the extension pedals is required. In a like manner, the sharp extension pedals 30 are mounted by means of the rods 42 and 48 so that they will move in a vertical plane in a translational manner without danger of binding. This movement of the sharp extension pedals is transmitted to the corresponding sharp pedals of the organ by means of the pedal engaging blocks 62. Here again, the sharp extension pedals are returned to their uppermost position by the spring action of the sharp pedals 14 of the organ itself.

When it is desired to adjust the height of the extension pedal keyboard to accommodate a player of a different age or size, one or both of each of the pairs of extension blocks 52, 56 and 64 are removed. Preferably, all of the extension blocks have substantially the same vertical dimension as, for example, one inch. Thus, with the arrangement shown, a two-inch range of variation in the vertical position of the extension keyboard can be obtained or an increment of one inch therebetween. Of course, additional extension blocks may be provided, as desired.

In conjunction with the octave pedal keyboard extension device 18 described above, an expression pedal extension device, generally indicated at 70, is provided for detachable securement to the expression pedal 16 of the organ 10. The device 70 includes an extension expression pedal 72 of any suitable construction having a pair of downwardly extending bores formed therein for receiving the upper end of a pair of rods 74. A series of extension blocks 76 having a vertical dimension substantially equal to the vertical dimensions of the extension blocks 52, 56 and 64, are detachably mounted, as by dowels 78 and corresponding bores with the lower end of each of the rods 74. The dowels 78 of the lowermost extension blocks are arranged to engage within corresponding bores formed in the upper portion of a lower member 80 which is arranged to engage the upper surface of the expression pedal. In order to detachably secure the pedal extension device 70 to the expression pedal 16 of the organ, there is provided a pair of spring clips 82 on each side of the member 80 which are arranged to engage the side of the expression pedal and frictionally retain the device 7 0 thereon.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided an octave keyboard pedal extension device which can readily be mounted in operative position on the octave pedal keyboard of an organ in a simple manner. The manner in which the extension pedals of the device are mounted for vertical movement simulates the movement of the organ pedals themselves. Wtih the present arrangement, the player presses the extension pedals down to effect play and they are returned by the spring action of the organ pedals themselves, without danger of binding.

Moreover, the device can readily be adjusted to accommodate players of various ages or sizes.

In addition, the present invention provides a corresponding extension device for the expression pedal of the organ which is likewise simple to mount in operative position and remove.

The expression pedal extension device is likewise adjustable to accommodate players of various sizes.

The octave pedal keyboard extension device 18 is shown as including eight natural extension pedals, that is, two C pedals designated as 28C and 28C. Since some makes of spinnet organs include eight natural pedals rather than seven natural pedals, as shown, the terms octave pedal keyboard, as herein used, includes both arrangements. The extension device pedal keyboard preferably includes eight natural extension pedals so that it can accommodate all makes of spinnet organs.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this. invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An extension device for a pedal keyboard comprising a top and sides, said sides being adapted to rest on a floor on opposite ends of an organ pedal keyboard, a set of key members including the usual black and white keys, each of said key members having a pair of guide rods extending therefrom intermediate its ends, said top having a series of pairs of holes therethrough, one pair .for each of said key members and said pairs of holes being spaced to register with the keys of the pedal keyboard, said pairs of rods being engaged in said pairs of holes, and guide means between said sides, said guide means having holes therethrough receiving one of each of said pairs of rods, each of said last-mentioned rods extending beyond said guide means and having a terminal portion provided with a pedal-engaging groove.

2. An extension device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said terminal portions comprises a block and wherein each of said blocks is detachably mounted on the associated rod by a plurality of detachable spacer blocks.

3. An extension device as defined in claim 2 wherein said sides include detachable spacer blocks on the lower edges thereof.

4. An extension device as defined in claim 3 wherein said spacer blocks are detachably secured by means of dowels.

5. An extension device as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a pair of elongated guide members fixed to and extending between said sides, one of said guide members having holes receiving the rods connected with said white keys, the other of said guide members being spaced vertically above said one guide member and having holes receiving the rods connected with said black keys.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 641,800 Seiler Jan. 23, 1900 704,498 Bates July 15, 1902 969,670 Stickel Sept. 6, 1910 1,007,063 Carr et al Oct. 31, 1911 2,499,244 Hammond et al. Feb. 28, 1950 

